Things of Beauty #52
Lollipop the Cat, soft shell crabs, and paper airplanes
Somehow, I blinked, and it's the middle of June! After a streak of very temperate spring-like weather here in Virginia, summer has moved in this week in all its hot and humid glory. I'll take it though because it also ushers in things like watermelon, juicy flavorful tomatoes, and corn on the cob.
This week's list has a bit of delicious food and also some things to read, look at, and listen to (perhaps while sitting inside in the air-conditioning, if you're also experiencing record high temperatures where you are).
Here's what I've squirreled away lately:
🐿 Artist, illustrator, and writer Catherine Rayner’s Substack,
! Her animal illustrations are so endearing! (I wonder if she ever draws squirrels?)🐿 I've said many times over the years that
‘s newsletter has always been a touchstone for me— reminding me of the important things (e.g., we get to define success for ourselves, there are no "magic buttons" that work for everyone, etc.). This piece is the most recent of those reminders for me: No One Knows What Works, but Doing Stuff Works. (Side note: in design-thinking, this is the "bias toward action" mindset.)🧁 June is my birthday month! I had a lovely lunch with family the day before my birthday, which ended with a delicious slice of carrot cake. On the actual day, my husband and I went to dinner at a Thai place we hadn't been to in years because it was a Sunday and our normal go-to wasn't open. Clearly, it was meant to be because they had soft shell crabs, which are a seasonal favorite of mine, in a curry sauce I love (Panang).
🐿 This episode of
’s Portfolio Career Podcast with was really great. I especially appreciated her open and honest reflections about stepping away from her illustration work when it stopped feeling creatively fulfilling and authentic.🐿 Ben Folds is out on his Paper Airplane Request Tour this summer. During the second half of the show, audience members write song requests down on sheets of paper, make paper airplanes, and then launch them at the stage. He then picks them up and plays the songs. I was super excited to catch the tour when it swung through Richmond (With the added bonus that he played in our local botanical gardens concert series and there were falcons to watch before the show!)
What's beautiful in your world these days? Anyone else celebrating a June birthday? Taking a summer vacation? Seen any good shows?
Be well, find tiny joy-
Mary Chris
Happy birthday!